Folding wheel-pedestal



G. T. HARTSON. FOLDING WHEEL PEDESTAL.

No. 554,685. Patented Feb 18, 1896;

iJNrrn STATES ATENT Fries.

FOLDING WHEEL-PEDESTAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 554,685, dated February18, 1896.

Application filed April 22, 1895. Serial No. 546,797. (No model.)

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES T. HARTSON, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Eaton Rapids, in the county of Eaton and State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in FoldingVVheel- Pedestals; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part ofthis specification, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective (inverted)view of my folding wheel-pedestal. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of thesame, showing it folded up as when not in use. Fig. 3 is a longitudinalsectional view of the device opened up and ready for use, the dottedlines showing the pedestal as folded. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectionalview on the vertical plane indicated by the broken line marked a: so inFig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a detail view in perspective of one of the foldingtrucks or wheel-bearings, with its retaining-sprin g.

Like letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

My invention relates to pedestals or supports for show-cases, heavyarticles of furnituresuch as sideboards, bureaus, &c.-and other articlesintended for exhibition in a store, warehouse, art-gallery, &c. and hasfor its object to construct a movable pedestal or support in such amanner that when not in use it can be easily folded up, so as to occupybut little room, and put away.

IVhen the pedestal is to be used, it can be folded out and arrangedready for use in a few moments of time; and with this object in view myinvention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts ofthe folding wheel-pedestal, which will be hereinafter more fully and atlength described.

This device is made in two parts or sections A and A, each of which isin the nature of a box having a flat top a a and rectangular sides andend pieces. (Shown respectively at b b and c 0'.) Upon the sides aresecurely fastened the hinge-plates B and B, through the ears 0 and O ofwhich are inserted the hinge-pins or pintles D and D. This constructionof the hinge permits of the part or I box A being folded over or doubledupon the part A when the pedestal is folded or closed, as illustrated onFig. 2 and in dotted lines in Fig. 3. NVhen thus folded together, thedevice has the outward appearance of a square or rectangular box, thetwo parts being fastened or locked together by means of a hook andstaple E or any other suitable fastening device.

In the outside corners of each of the parts A and A is placed a plate orblock F, which form. bearings for the trucks G and G. There are two ofthese trucks, one appertaining to each part A and A, and as they aresubstantially of the same general construction the description of onewill answer for both.

Each truck consists of a rectangular frame or bearing H, of wrought-ironor other suitable metal, reinforced by a V-shaped brace I, the divergingends of which are connectedto the sides of the truck -frame at thehingebolts J J, by which the trucks are hinged to the bearing-blocks FF, one on each side. At the lower corners of the truck-frame G arelocated square brackets K K, for the purpose of strengthening andreinforcing that part of the truck, and into the-compartments formed bythese brackets are inserted the screwthreaded shanks L of the swiveledcasterbearings L, which are provided with caster- Wheels Z, of anyapproved size and material. The bearingsiL are swiveled upon the lowerend of the stem L, and the latter may be adjusted vertically in itsbearings in the corners of the truck-frame by means of adjustablesetnuts M and washers m; so that by adjusting these nuts and washers,the projecting part of the stem or shank L of each caster may belengthened or shortened at will, thereby raising or lowering that end ofthe pedestal from the floor or ground higher than the opposite end whenit is desired to place the platform A A in a slanting positionlongitudinally.

WVhen this device is to be used, the parts A and A are opened, asillustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, thereby forming a rectangular plat form,which may be either horizontal or inclined, upon which the article to beexhibited is mounted. In that position the truckframes G G standapproximately at right angles to the platform and are maintained in thatupright position by means of spring stops or stays placed at eachcorner, each of which consists of a bent flat spring or leaf-spring N,into the free end of which is inserted a laterally-projecting stud orpin 'It. The other end of the fiat spring Nis pivoted to the inner sideof its appropriate box, and by raising the free end of the spring andslipping the pin or into an aperture n in the adjacent side of thetruck-frame it will be observed that the spring will act as a brace orstay to hold said frame in its vertical or upright position. By againdisengaging the stud n from its aperture n the truck can be folded downagain into the box, so as to be out of the way when the parts A and Aare folded together and closed, as shown in the drawings.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings,it will be seen that my folding wheel-pedestal is exceedingly simple inconstruction, and can be either opened or closed up by any person ofordinary intelligence in a few moments of time. \Vhen folded together itoccupies but little room, and can then be used (if desired) as a lowstand or platform for the display of goods, or for other purposes. 3ymeans of the adj ustable caster-bearings at one end the platform formedby the two hinged and contiguous sections A and A may be adjusted to aninclined or slanting position longitudinally at will, and as thecastenbearin gs are swiveled the p1atfor1n,with the article or articlesplaced thereon, can readily be moved upon an even springs engage,substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereuntoaflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES 'l. llAR-TSON.

Nitn esses:

ALANSON OSBORN, F. H. DE GOLIN.

